HR Policies: 6.10.3
Staff Taking Cornell Courses (Extramural)
Subject: Encouraging Employee Growth
Number: 6.10.3
Issued: 10/1/80
Revised: 6/30/98
Purpose
Cornell University encourages its staff to take academic courses
through the Extramural Program to help improve job performance and
assist in career and personal development.
Supervisors are encouraged to support their staff' interests in academic coursework.
Eligibility
Regular nonacademic staff, nonprofessorial academic staff who do
not hold voting rights at any college, university, or graduate faculty,
and ROTC military personnel are eligible to enroll in up to four
credit hours per semester on a space-available basis with the permission
of the supervisor, the department head, and the instructor. The
four credit hours may include courses taken for credit or on an
audit basis. Employee participation in this program is limited to
courses that are offered for credit through the Continuing
Education and Summer Sessions Office.
Auditing
Staff auditing courses under the Extramural Program must officially
register using the Extramural Application form (available in B20
Day Hall ). Employees auditing courses are expected to attend classes
regularly, and fulfill any auditing requirements set by the course
instructor.
Course Work
Staff must meet all regular course requirements including exams,
labs, research, and written assignments. All homework must be done
on the staff member's own time.
Waived Tuition
An eligible staff member may take up to four credit hours of extramural
coursework, per semester, without charge for tuition, as long as
the staff member remains in good standing as a staff member. A new
staff member must have started work before the beginning of the
academic term to be eligible for waived tuition in a course taken
during that term.
Note: Graduate level courses that do not serve to maintain or improve current job skills are subject to withholding of federal income tax. You must contact Benefit Services in the Office of Human Resources before registering for a non-job related graduate level course.
Full Tuition
Staff must pay full tuition for coursework in excess of four credit
hours per semester. A person who terminates employment while taking
a course for which tuition has been waived must either withdraw
from the course within the time limits stated in the extramural
course brochure, or pay the full tuition charge. An exception to
this provision may be granted if less than 25 percent of the instruction
period remains at the time of the termination. A staff member pursuing
coursework under the Extramural Program is not entitled to benefits
under the Tuition Aid program unless the total number of supported
hours is four or less.
Special Fees
Staff are responsible for all special fees associated with extramural
courses, including lab fees, materials, and late registration penalties.
Application
Staff wishing to take Cornell academic courses through Continuing
Education and Summer Sessions register using the Extramural
Application form (available in B20 Day Hall).
Staff must comply with all regulations and procedures contained in the extramural course brochure and must fulfill all registration requirements within the first two days of the semester.
Admission
Staff are admitted into a course on a space-available basis. Employees
may be asked to withdraw if space is required to accommodate regular
Cornell students.
Approval
Staff need to obtain the signatures of the supervisor, department
head, and the course instructor for the Extramural Application form.
Supervisors are encouraged to work with staff so that opportunities provided by the university may be utilized. Supervisors have the authority to refuse permission for staff to take a course if job responsibilities necessitate the staff member's presence at the job site during the particular hours the requested class is offered and alternate satisfactory work arrangements cannot be found. Support in finding alternate coursework of interest to the staff member should be provided.
Staff must make up all time off for course work in excess of four credit hours per semester.
Release Time for Full-Time Staff
Supervisors have the discretion to either grant release time for
time away from work to attend class (for up to four credit hours
per semester), or to require that all or part of the time be made
up when the absence from work interferes with the department's operational
requirements. In cases where the supervisor has requested that a
course be taken, staff are not required to make up time. Release
time that is granted for extramural study will be recorded as leave
with pay.
Release Time for Part-Time Staff
Part-time staff are generally expected to take courses outside of
regular working hours. Supervisors have discretion to grant release
time when class time coincides with scheduled work time.
Course Withdrawal
Staff wishing to withdraw from a course must complete, and have
their supervisor sign, an Employee Course Withdrawal form. Staff
must comply with all of Continuing Education & Summer Sessions
regulations governing course changes and withdrawals.
Special Provisions
Laid-off Staff (See Policy 6.12.1 Layoffs ) Cornell staff on official layoff status are permitted to register for up to six credit hours per semester under this policy.
Laid-off staff remain eligible to take extramural courses under this policy for up to one year from the date of layoff.
If a laid-off staff member returns to work while enrolled in an extramural course, the staff member may complete the course with supervisory approval.
Laid-off staff must secure the signature of their assigned Case Manager in place of the supervisor and department head on the Extramural Application Form .
Retired Staff
Retired Cornell staff may enroll for up to six credit hours per
semester under this policy. Benefit Services will approve applications
in place of the supervisor and department head.
Contact the local hr representative or designee or Benefit Services (607) 255-3936 in the Office of Human resources for more information.